Roller for bed frames



Feb. 12, 1 963 J. MAGUIRE 3,

ROLLER FOR BED FRAMES Filed May 4, 1961 30 .F IG. 1. l0

. INVEN TOR. 28 20 /5 JOHN MA GUI/8E A 7' TaeA/EY This invention relates to a roller for bed frames.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved roller structure for bed frames which is adapted to facilitate the movement of a bed across a carpeted surface without excessive carpet wear due to frictional drag.

it is a more particular object of my invention to provide a roller for bed frames which permits the frame to be pivotaiiy moved about an axis disposed at either corner of the head of the bed. Four bed frame supporting rollers are provided on each bed, each of the rollers being frustoconical in shape and being mounted on a swivel. The rollers are provided at their opposite ends with means for engaging the carpet whereby upon pivotal movement of the frame, the rollers are automatically oriented to the proper angular position with respect to the pivotal axis of movement of the frame. This angular position is one in which the longitudinal axes of the rollers are directed toward the axis of pivotal movement. When the rollers are so oriented, the weight of the frame and bed is evenly distributed across the entire surface area of the rollers during movement of the bed. There is no frictional drag between the rollers and the carpeting because the circurnference of each portion of each roller is directly proportional to the distance which it travels during pivotal movement of the frame.

While my roller structure permits the frame to be mounted for pivotal movement, it also permits straight sideward movement of the frame as well.

it is a further object of my invention to provide such a roller structure for bed frames in which the frustoconical rollers cannot become reversed with respect to the head of the bed frame.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a roller structure for bed frames having all of the advantages and benefits of the structure set forth above and described in detail hereinafter in this specification. My invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of a bed rollers mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevatio-nal View of the roller assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of one end of a roller, showing the tins;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the roller mounting assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the same, partly broken away;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate my invention comprises a bed frame it having a pair of side rails 11 and two connecting pairs of telescoping cross channels 12. A headboard 13 is attached to one end of the side rails 11. Mounted between each of the junctions of the side rails ii and cross channels 12 is a roller assembly.

Each of the roller assemblies comprises an elongated frame with my frusto-conical roller 14, which may be formed of plastic, rubber, wood or any other suitable material. The bottom of the roller 14 rests upon and engages the floor for the entire length of the roller. The floor is customarily carpeted. The roller 14 is mounted on an elongated axle 15 which extends through its longitudinal axis. The axle 15 is rotatably journaled at its opposite ends on the downwardly directed arms 17 of a U-shaped bracket 13.

The top of the bracket 18 carries adjacent its center an upwardly directed spindle pin 1%, which is provided with an enlargement 2G and shoulder 21 which are disposed on opposite sides of the top of the bracket 18. Mounted on the spindle pin 19 is a bushing 22, which is preferably formed of self-lubricating material such as nylon. The bushing 22 extends into the bottom of a hollow sleeve 23, which extends downwardly from the cross channel 22.

The side wall of the sleeve 23 is provided with an upwardly directed elongated slot 24, which is adapted to removably receive a leg '25, which extends laterally from and may be formed integrally with the bushing 22 to prevent rotation of the bushing 2-2 with respect to the sleeve 23.

The bushing 22 is provided at its lower end with an outwardly directed flange as, which his between the lower end of the sleeve 23 and the top of the bracket 18. The flange 26 does not extend completely around the bushing 22, but is provided with a cut-away portion 27 of approximately the purpose of which will be discussed hereinafter. The top of the bracket 18 is provided with an upwardly directed stop pin 23. which is disposed within the cut-away portion 27 of the flange 2d. The stop pin 2.3 is adapted to engage the flange 26 at either end of the cut-away portion 27 to limit the rotation of the bracket 18 with respect to the channel 12.

Both ends of each of the rollers 1d are provided around the entire peripheral edge thereof with a plurality of evenly spaced small fins 25?. The shape of the fins 2? can be best described by stating that the ends of the roller are rounded, while the fins 29 comprise substantially right angular extensions of the circumference and ends of the roller.

in use, the frame 16 may be mounted for pivotal movement around a vertical axis disposed adjacent either end of the headboard 13. Such axis may comprise a hinge connected to the headboard at 3% or 31. When the axis is at 3%, the rollers 14 upon pivotal movement of the frame it) will assume the positions shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings, with their longitudinal axes all being directed toward the pivotal axis 3%. If any of the rollers are not oriented in such position when the frame iii is moved, the carpeting will engage the fins 29 to twist or rotate the rollers into their proper positions.

If the pivotal axis of the frame iii is disposed at 31, then the carpeting engages the fins 2% to pivot the rollers M into the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, in which the longitudinal axes of the rollers 14 are all directed toward the pivot point 31.

As each of the rollers 14 pivots, the stop pin 28 moves within the tit-away portion 27. The ends of the flange 26 at the opposite ends of the cut-away portion 27 engage the stop pin to limit the pivotal movement of the bracket 18 and roller 24. A cut-away portion of approximately 90 permits movement of the rollers into proper position for a pivotal axis disposed at either end of the headboard, while preventing the rollers from accidentally becoming reversed. T he degree of pivotal movement permitted the rollers may be increased or decreased as desired.

it will be noted that each of the rollers id is frustoconical, with its narrow end disposed toward the head of the frame and thus disposed toward the pivotal axis. When the bed is pivoted about the axis 39 or 31, there is substantially no frictional drag between the roller and the carpet because the circumference of each portion of each of the rollers 14 is substantially equal to the distance traveled by that portion of the roller during arcuate movement of the frame it). The end of the roller 14- which is remote from the pivotal axis travels a longer path and the circumference of the outer end of the roller is accordingly greater than that of the inner end of the roller.

While theoretically the rollers 14 which are disposed at the foot of the bed frame 10 should be tapered more substantially than those at the head portion, it has been found expedient in manufacturing the bed frame in commercial quantities to utilize a single shape of roller, the taper of which is sufliciently close to the theoretical optimum to eliminate substantially all of the frictional drag.

I claim:

1. A roller structure for a bed frame comprising a vertically directed cylindrical spindle pin, a plastic bushing surrounding said spindle pin, said spindle pin being rotatable within said bushing, a hollow cylindrical sleeve attached at its upper end to the bed frame, said sleeve having a downwardly directed open end, said bushing being mounted within said sleeve, said sleeve having an elongated slot extending upwardly from its lower edge, said bushing having a laterally directed leg fitted within said slot to prevent rotational movement of said bushing with respect to said sleeve, said bushing having a radially directed circular flange disposed around a sub stantial portion of its lower end, the diameter of said flange being greater than the diameter of said sleeve, a U-shaped bracket having a horizontally directed portion fixedly attached to said spindle pin, said circular flange having a cut-away portion of approximately 90 on the side thereof disposed toward the head of the bed frame, said horizontally directed portion of said bracket having an upwardly directed pin disposed within said cut-away portion, said pin adapted upon the rotation of said bracket to engage the portions of said flange on the opposite sides of said cut-away portion to limit the rotation of said bracket and roller, said bracket having a pair of downwardly directed arms at the opposite ends of said horizontally directed portion, an elongated roller having a horizontally directed axle rotatably journaled at its opposite ends on said arms, said roller being substantially frusto-conical, with its narrow end disposed toward the head of .the bed frame, each end of said roller having a plurality ofspaced fins extending therearound, said fins having spaces therebetween adapted to receive the pile of floor carpeting, the longitudinal axis of said roller upon the pivotal movement of said frame about an axis disposed at the head portion thereof being automatically rotated by the engagement between said fins and the pile of the carpeting to a position wherein the longitudinal axis of said roller is directed toward the axis of pivotal movement ofthe bed frame, so that the circumference ofieach portion of said roller is approximately equal to the distance of travel of said portion as said roller moves along an arcuate path, to reduce the frictional drag and Wear upon the carpeting.

2. A roller structure for a bed frame comprising a. vertically directed cylindrical, spindle pin, a plastic bushing surrounding said spindle pin, said bushing being held against rotational movement with respect to the bed frame, said spindle pin being rotatable within said bushing, said bushing having a radially directed circular flange disposed around a substantial portion of its lower end, a U-shaped bracket having a horizontally directed portion fixedly attached to said spindle pin, said circular flange having a cut-away portion on the, side thereof disposed toward the, headofthe bedlframe, said horizontally directed portion of said bracket having an upwardly directed pin disposed within said cut-away portion and adapted upon the rotation of said bracket to engage the portions of said flange on the opposite sides of said cutaway portion to limit the rotation of said bracket and roller, said bracket having a pair of downwardly directed arms at the opposite ends of said horizontally directed portion, an elongated roller rotatably journaled at its opposite ends on said arms, said roller being substantially frusto-conical, with its narrow end disposed toward the head of the bed frame, each end of said roller having a plurality of spaced fins extending therearound, said fins having spaces thcrebetween adapted to receive the pile of floor carpeting, the longitudinal axis of said roller upon the pivotal movement of said frame about an axis,

disposed at the head portion thereof being automatically rotated by the engagement between said tins and the.

3. A roller structure for a bed frame comprising a vertically directed cylindrical spindle pin rotatably connected to said bed frame, a U-shaped bracket having a horizontally directed portion fixedly attached to said spindle pin, said bracket having a pair of downwardly directed arms, an elongated roller rotatably journaled at its oposite ends on said arms, said roller being substantially frusto-coni-- cal, with its narrow end disposed toward the head of the bed'frame, stop means engageable between said bracket and bed frame to prevent the rotation of the longitudinal axis of said roller to a position wherein the narrow end of said roller is disposed toward the foot of the bed frame,

each end of said roller having a plurality of spaced finsextending therearound, said fins having spaces therebetween adapted to receive the pile of floor carpeting, the

longitudinal axis of said roller upon the pivotal move-' ment of said frame about an axis disposed at the head portion thereof being automatically rotated by the engagement between said tins and the pile of the carpeting to a position wherein the longitudinal axis of said roller is directed toward'the axis of pivotal movement of the bed frame, so that the circumference of each portion ofsaid' roller is approximately equal to the distance of travel of said portion as said roller moves along an arcuate path, to reduce the frictional drag and wear upon the carpeting.

4. A roller structure for a bed frame comprising a vertically directed cylindrical spindle pin rotatably con-- nccted to said bed frame, a U-shaped bracket having a horizontally directed portion fixedly attached to said spindle pin, said bracket having a pair of downwardly directed arms, an elongated roller rotatably journaled at its opposite ends on said arms, said roller being substantially frusto-conical, with its narrow end disposed toward the head of the bed frame, each endof said roller having a plurality of spaced fins extending therearound, said fins having spacestherebetween adapted to receive the pile of floor carpeting, the longitudinal axis of said roller upon the pivotal movement of said frame about an axis disposed at the head portion thereof being automatically rotated by the engagement between said fins and the pile of the carpeting to a position wherein the longitudinal axis of said roller is directed toward the axis of pivotal move ment of the bed frame, so that the circumference of each portion of said roller is approximately equal to the distance oftravel of'said portion as said roller moves along an arcuate path, to reduce the frictional drag and wear upon the carpeting.

5. A roller structure for a bed frame comprising an elongated roller mounted beneath said bed frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said roller being sub! stantially frusto-conical, with its narrow end disposed toward the head of the bed frame, said roller having a plurality of spaced fins extending therearound, said fins being adapted to engage the pile of floor carpeting, the longitudinal axis of said roller being rotatable with respect to the bed frame, stop means to prevent the rotation of the longitudinal axis of said roller to a position wherein the narrow end of said roller is disposed toward the foot of said bed frame, the longitudinal axis of said roller upon the pivotal movement of said bed frame about an axis disposed at the head portion thereof being automatically rotated by the engagement between said fins and the pile of the carpeting to a position wherein the longitudinal axis of said roller is directed toward the axis of pivotal movement of the bed frame, so that the circumference of each portion of said roller is approximately equal to the distance of travel of said portion as said roller moves along an arcuate path, to reduce the frictional drag and wear upon the carpeting.

6. A roller structure for a bed frame comprising an elongated roller mounted beneath said bed frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said roller being sub stantially frusto-conical, with its narrow end disposed toward the head of the bed frame, said roller having a plurality of spaced fins extending therearound, said fins being adapted to engage the pile of floor carpeting, the longitudinal axis of said roller being rotatable with respect to the bed frame, the longitudinal axis of said roller upon the pivotal movement of said bed frame about an axis disposed at the head portion thereof being automatically rotated by the engagement between said fins and the pile of the carpeting to a position wherein the longitudinal axis of said roller is directed toward the axis of pivotal movement of the bed frame, so that the circumference of each portion of said roller is approximately equal to the distance of travel of said portion as said roller moves along an arcuate path, to reduce the frictional drag and wear upon the carpeting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,102,508 Hill July 7, 1914 2,354,715 Tarbox Aug. 1, 1944 2,964,778 Frey Dec. 20, 1960 2,986,746 Jackson June 6, 1961 

6. A ROLLER STRUCTURE FOR A BED FRAME COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ROLLER MOUNTED BENEATH SAID BED FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SAID ROLLER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FRUSTO-CONICAL, WITH ITS NARROW END DISPOSED TOWARD THE HEAD OF THE BED FRAME, SAID ROLLER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED FINS EXTENDING THEREAROUND, SAID FINS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE PILE OF FLOOR CARPETING, THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ROLLER BEING ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE BED FRAME, THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ROLLER UPON THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BED FRAME ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED AT THE HEAD PORTION THEREOF BEING AUTOMATICALLY ROTATED BY THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID FINS AND THE PILE OF THE CARPETING TO A POSITION WHEREIN THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ROLLER IS DIRECTED TOWARD THE AXIS OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE BED FRAME, SO THAT THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF EACH PORTION OF SAID ROLLER IS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE OF TRAVEL OF SAID PORTION AS SAID ROLLER MOVES ALONG AN ARCUATE PATH, TO REDUCE THE FRICTIONAL DRAG AND WEAR UPON THE CARPETING. 